JAPAN will soon restart importing both fresh and frozen beef from Brazil.
Trade was halted following the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) – or mad cow disease in Brazil – in late 2012.
Commonwealth Bank economist Tobin Gorey said while Japan’s Health Ministry still had some technical details to work through before trade could physically resume, the ministry had said it expected the details would be resolved reasonably quickly.
Mr Gorey said Japan was Australia’s second largest beef export market in 2015-16, with close to a 50-50 split of grass and grain fed product. Brazil’s beef industry is predominantly pasture based.
Brazil also regained access to the US market in June this year.
Mr Gorey said contrary to reports that had been circulating, Brazil’s ministry had issued a clarifying statement saying Japan would only open trade to processed Brazilian beef, not “in natura”.